LONDON: Public unease has given way to increasing fury here over giving millions of pounds in aid to an increasingly prosperous India, as the David Cameron government continues to resist pressure to stop it despite being in the throes of an economic crisis.
The clamour to stop the aid reached a new high when India last week decided to prefer the French fighter jet Rafale to the Typhoon, which is partly manufactured in Britain.
The debate was passionately renewed today with The Sunday Times and The Sunday Telegraph reporting that finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had stated in the Rajya Sabha last August that India did not need British aid which, according to him, was “peanuts”. “We do not require the aid. It is a peanut in our total development exercises (expenditure).”
Mukherjee’s remarks, reported to have been taken from the official transcript of the Rajya Sabha, were not reported in the UK media earlier, the newspapers said, sparking another wave of comments from people demanding an end to aid to India.
Reacting to media reports, the spokesman of the Indian High Commission to the UK said, “Yes, we have currently an aid programme with the UK. We are in ongoing consultation with British Government on nature, future direction, priority and manner of disbursal (of the aid).”
The papers also quoted a “leaked memo” which reportedly said that the then foreign secretary, Nirupama Rao proposed “not to avail (of) any
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/India-rejects-aid-from-Britain-says-it-is-peanuts/articleshow/11769480.cms
RAE BARELI: Priyanka Gandhi today said the central focus of her brother Rahul Gandhi’s politics is not to become Prime Minister and the question does not arise at the moment.
“I do not think that is the central focus of his politics. We have an extremely good Prime Minister. We are fortunate to have a person who is honest and works well and I don’t think this question arises at the moment,” Priyanka told reporters here.
She was replying to a question on whether the time has come for Rahul to become Prime Minister, a demand that is frequently made by sections within the Congress.
The 40-year-old daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was all-praise for Rahul and his contribution to building up the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, said he is more concerned about his work than worrying about how the election results would impact his reputation.
“It his work that matters. He is not concerned about his reputation. Only cowards don’t lead from the front,” she said.
Priyanka said that before the 2007 Assembly elections Rahul had explained to her that though Congress was not organisationally strong in UP. He wanted to get involved as his concern was building up the party and work for the welfare of the state.
She asserted that Rahul was not working for a reputation but for change.
“As I understand it, the mandate my brother is trying to set is for development of the state,”
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rahuls-politics-not-aimed-at-becoming-PM-Priyanka/articleshow/11766539.cms
NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh, the hero of India’s victorious World Cup campaign last year, is being treated for lung cancer in the United States, his physiotherapist said on Sunday.
Jatin Choudhary told a television news channel that the all-rounder was diagnosed in October and was being treated in Boston, but said the disease was in its early stages.
“Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation would be complete by April end and he would be perfectly fit to play in May,” Choudhary told a news agency.
Yuvraj’s family said last November that the all-rounder had been battling a golf ball-sized non-malignant lung tumour which first affected him during the World Cup.
His mother said he had been “constantly” troubled by bouts of coughing and vomiting throughout the tournament, which India won on home soil in April.
Despite this, the left-hander scored 362 runs and took 15 wickets in nine matches to earn the player of the tournament award as India took the title for the first time since 1983.
Yuvraj, known as an aggressive hitter and useful left-arm spin bowler, wrote on Twitter that he hoped to draw inspiration from Lance Armstrong, the cyclist who overcame testicular cancer to win numerous Tour de France titles.
“Reading Lance Armstrong’s book it’s not about the bike! I’m sure it will motivate me and pull me throu this time!
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Yuvraj-Singh-fit-to-play-in-May-after-cancer-treatment/articleshow/11768113.cms
BSP is a party of robbers: Beni
Tagged Under : latest india news
ALLAHABAD: Ring, cup-plate, cot (charpai), auto-rickshaw, car, cooker, ceiling fan, press, violon, torch, plane, tent, table lamp, glass, camera, television, rickshaw, bucket, engine, battery, etc., are not only domestic appliances which are required for running a home, but all these are also election symbols allotted to Independents and candidates of smaller parties in 12 assembly seats — Bara, Handia, Koraon, Soraon, Phaphamau, Pratappur, City West, City North, City South, Meja, Karchana and Phulpur – of Allahabad.
With a total of 240 candidates, including 84 Independents, in fary, the district election office has issued these symbols. Apart from known election symbol of recognized political parties like “Kamal Ka Phool” for BJP, “Panja” for Congrees, “Hathi” for BSP and “Cycle” for Samajwadi Party, Independents, who are fray from 12 assembly seats, are busy in hectic canvassing.
After the name roll back procedure, 240 candidates including 26 in Phaphamau, 20 in Soraon, 26 in Phulpur, 16 in Pratappur, 14 in Handia, 23 in Meja, 25 in Karchana, 19 in Allahabad West, 16 in Allahabad North, 14 in Allahabad South, 23 in Bara and 18 in Koraon are contesting elections.
Officials said that only nine candidates had rolled back their names in 12 assembly seats.
Interestingly, the Independents and candidates of smaller parties are here explaining the utility of domestic appliances to their voters claiming that these items are important to run a family or house. Independents seem to be happy with their allotted election symbols seeking the blessing of voters
Article source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2EtY0WGHEH1kf/story01.htm
NEW DELHI: Yuvraj Singh, who played a stellar role in India’s ODI World Cup triumph last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States.
The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs by his family.
But it has now been diagnosed as malignant and Yuvraj is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the Cancer Research Institute in Boston.
His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary, however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May. His mother Shabnam Singh could not be reached while his former cricketer father Yograj refused comments on the matter.
“It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 per cent curable,” Chaudhary said.
“The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. End of March, he would undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to
RAE BARELI: Priyanka Gandhi today said the central focus of her brother Rahul Gandhi’s politics is not to become Prime Minister and the question does not arise at the moment.
“I do not think that is the central focus of his politics. We have an extremely good Prime Minister. We are fortunate to have a person who is honest and works well and I don’t think this question arises at the moment,” Priyanka told reporters here.
She was replying to a question on whether the time has come for Rahul to become Prime Minister, a demand that is frequently made by sections within the Congress.
The 40-year-old daughter of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was all-praise for Rahul and his contribution to building up the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, said he is more concerned about his work than worrying about how the election results would impact his reputation.
“It his work that matters. He is not concerned about his reputation. Only cowards don’t lead from the front,” she said.
Priyanka said that before the 2007 Assembly elections Rahul had explained to her that though Congress was not organisationally strong in UP. He wanted to get involved as his concern was building up the party and work for the welfare of the state.
She asserted that Rahul was not working for a reputation but for change.
“As I understand it, the mandate my brother is trying to set is for
Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rahuls-politics-not-aimed-at-becoming-PM-Priyanka/articleshow/11766539.cms
